exempt

1 of 3

adjective

ex·​empt ig-ˈzem(p)t How to pronounce exempt (audio)
1
: free or released from some liability or requirement to which others are subject
was exempt from jury duty
the estate was exempt from taxes
2
obsolete : set apart

exempt

2 of 3

verb

exempted; exempting; exempts

transitive verb

: to release or deliver from some liability or requirement to which others are subject
exempted from military service

exempt

3 of 3

noun

: one exempted or freed from duty

Examples of exempt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And African countries with no historical link to France are not exempt: Leaders in Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, for example, brook no dissent. Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Community banks would be exempt, and the rule wouldn’t kick in until July 2028—the last year of the next presidential term. Philip Elliott, TIME, 18 Mar. 2024 This only applies to employer plans so IRAs are not exempt. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 After the Bloomberg reporting and public outcry, lawyers for Newsom’s office took another look at the law and clarified that Panera would not be exempt after all because their bread isn’t fully produced in-house, said Alex Stack, a spokesperson in the governor’s office, in a statement to Fortune. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 In other words, fast food franchises that produce their own bread are exempt from paying their workers the new minimum wage. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Newsom has also said that Panera may not be exempt from the new minimum wage law after all. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Keep in mind that pop-in shops for forgotten items can be exempt from this practice. Karla Walsh, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Prior to that change, California parents could cite personal beliefs in asking children to be exempt from routine vaccination requirements; the new law said that only medical exemptions would be allowed for children entering daycare and kindergarten. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
The law exempts religious organizations from the tax. Todd Richmond, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended. Spring 2024:Do human experts agree with Punxsutawney Phil? Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 Under the act, states can exempt themselves from daylight saving time. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2024 The state’s groundwater protection law, passed in 1980, requires metropolitan regions including Tucson to prove new housing developments have a 100-year supply before construction, but the law exempts mines. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Language that could soon be signed by the governor now would exempt St. Augustine, Key West, the town of Palm Beach and buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach, House sponsor Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, said Tuesday during debate on the bill. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 The law exempts businesses that produce and sell bread as a stand-alone menu item, meaning those bakeries are not required to pay workers the higher minimum wage and can continue paying the state’s current $16 minimum wage. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Currently, the law only exempts drugs that have a single orphan designation from the negotiation process. Rachel Cohrs Reprints, STAT, 29 Feb. 2024 The bill would fully exempt all income at or below $6,150 for individuals and $12,300 for married couples. Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
One additional player may be added to each draw as a special exempt. Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 20 July 2022 The electric-car maker clashed with Fremont officials last month over whether its factory was an essential business exempt from shutdown orders. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Apr. 2020 Donations made directly to the NRA would not qualify as tax exempt. Stephen Gandel, CBS News, 27 Nov. 2019 The rustic retreat boasts 28 acres, 27 of which are classified as agricultural exempt improved pasture land, according to Milliorn. Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, 3 Sep. 2019 The Senate plan also places sales taxes on upgrades to homes and buildings -- such as installing new window treatments and new roofs -- that are currently tax exempt. Julia O'Donoghue, NOLA.com, 3 June 2018 Harrisburg is burdened by the fact that a majority of its real estate is owned by the state or is tax exempt. Michaelle Bond, Philly.com, 16 Mar. 2018 By the end of the current abatement, the building will have been tax exempt for 15 years. Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 13 Dec. 2017 The department is taking more steps to detect fraud, including checking the IRS website to see if an organization really is tax exempt, said Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the department. Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exempt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin exemptus, past participle of eximere to take out — more at example

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exempt was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exempt

Cite this Entry

“Exempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exempt. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exempt

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​empt ig-ˈzem(p)t How to pronounce exempt (audio)
: free or released from some requirement that others must meet or deal with

exempt

2 of 2 verb
: to make exempt

Legal Definition

exempt

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​empt ig-ˈzempt How to pronounce exempt (audio)
: free or released from some obligation or duty to which others are subject : not subject or liable
certain properties are declared to be exempt and cannot be taken by a person's creditorsJ. H. Williamson

exempt

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to release or exclude from some liability (as in taxation), obligation, or duty to which others are subject
exempts the income of a spendthrift trustW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
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